LATEST FORUM POST
PatPenguin27 May 2016 at 02:10That would be excellent. I've been leveraging the BMGA site for information about individual tournament but would love a season long wrap-up!Go to latest post »

LATEST COMMENTMore »
camcouper02 Aug 2017 at 21:32its going to be a great couple of weeks of minigolf, i'm looking forward to being there for all and seeing some great actionGo to latest comment »

Oceanport, NJ - The 2017 U.S. Open was held at Bluegrass Miniature Golf course at the Monmouth Racetrack on July 21st & 22nd. The conditions were quite warm over the two days with temperatures being above 90F on Friday and only tapering off slightly on Saturday. This created some fast turf for the players to deal with.

It's no surprise that a tournament held at a horse track should feature as many movements over ten rounds as one might see on the front-stretch of the Kentucky Derby. The featured favorite, Olivia Prokopova from the Czech Republic, was never far from the pace set in the first three rounds of the tournament. Throughout the next seven rounds, however, she would pick off the leaders and by round seven it was a two "horse" race with her and Fred Stewart from N. Chesterfield, VA, USA. Fred had gone into the last four rounds on day two of the tournament with a three stroke lead over Olivia. Not far behind were Rick Culverhouse (the leader after round three) of Sebring, FL, USA, Danny McCaslin of Holly Springs, NC, USA (past U.S. Open champion) and Gary Hester of Thomasville, NC, USA, all of which were five strokes back of Fred.

With Olivia shooting a 32 and 33 in rounds seven and eight, she passed Fred and started to widen her lead. She finished with a commanding eight stroke lead, shooting a 348 over the ten rounds. Fred would hold onto second, fending off a late run by Danny McCaslin who would fall just short of Fred by two strokes. Olivia finished the tournament in style, acing hole 18 as the tournament field watched. Her commanding scores would also win her the woman's division as well as the team division which she won with Joey Graybeal, defending their title from last year.

The primary sponsor of the tournament, as they were when the 2014 edition was held on the same course, was the law offices of Drazin and Warshaw. Unlike many tournaments in Europe, the U.S. Open is played with golf balls only and in fact players can only use the officially sanctioned Chromax balls for play. With the sun shining all weekend, the silver and gold balls in play glistened as they rolled along the greens and dropped into the cups.

We had a moment to catch up with Olivia after the tournament and asked a few questions about her experience. Our mini-interview with the 2017 champion follows.

Minigolfnews (MGN): How does it feel to be the U.S. Open winner this year?

Olivia: I am very very happy that I am back on greens with good form. From the US Open 2014 at PRO category I didn't get on the podium when I was injured, had a few operations and I was frustrated. But I never give up and never stop believing that I can come back. Now I feel great satisfaction.

Minigolfnews (MGN): You were second after day one and Fred looked like he was on a roll - then you come out and shoot a 32 and 33 the first two rounds on day 2 - what do you credit the great scores that moved you into first?

Olivia: I thought that I can play good. But other players played great too and I skipped ahead of them. I believed that I could play good score that will retain me on the top. I wanted attack too. In the end has succeeded everything.

Minigolfnews (MGN): You shot so well but were there any holes on the course that gave you trouble this weekend?

Olivia: Paradoxically on hole number 5 and 11. Some of players donīt believe in it, but it is true. On hole 5 I have 3 bogey and on hole number 11 I havenīt got hole in one. Yes, that easy hole was bad for me.

Minigolfnews (MGN): From the competition you played with this weekend, who do you see as having the best chance to win the Masters in October?

Olivia: The circle of favorites will be big. I don't want forget to anybody. And also nobody want hear that he is favorite of US Masters... Expect Danny McCaslin. I hope that I will have chance too. I am looking forward to US Masters.

Thank you very much to Carol, John and USPMGA for great organizations of US Open, all players for great game and accept me to this gentlemans and legends to our sport.

U.S. Open to be Held on July 21-22, 201719 Jul 2017 at 04:01 | views: 470 | Comments: 0Oceanport, NJ - The U.S. Open returns to Bluegrass Miniature Golf in Oceanport, NJ, USA this coming weekend July 21st and 22nd. The course previously hosted the U.S. Open in 2014 and once again the tournament will be held on the "green" course with 10 total ...

Finnish Championships 201718 Jul 2017 at 19:28 | views: 639 | Comments: 0This year it was time to do some changes and try out a whole new championships system  just one big championships with a little opening ceremony and both stroke play and match play. The competition took place in Koulukatu, Tampere, from Friday the 7th to Sunday ...

Miniature Golf and Bettering the Community - Part 515 Jul 2017 at 13:21 | views: 653 | Comments: 0We're once again taking an opportunity to look at some of the unique ways miniature golf has an impact on our communities beyond just being a way to bring people together on a date night. In this article we'll highlight some different uses from being part of a ...

Interview with Daniel Vlcek03 Jul 2017 at 14:42 | views: 639 | Comments: 0While in the Czech Republic taking part in their national Masters competition, Minigolfnews reporter Steve Lovell managed to catch up with one of the rising stars of adventure golf in the world, Daniel Vlcek. He took the time to not only tell us about his career ...